Just when it looked like the Clippers and Celtics had finally agreed upon two separate deals to send Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers to Los Angeles, and DeAndre Jordan and two first-round draft picks to Boston, NBA Commissioner David Stern publicly questioned the nature of the trades and their contingency upon one another.

League rules state that teams cannot “trade” coaches, and, more importantly, that there can’t be any “side deals.” Therefore, for the Clippers and Celtics to work something out, the teams have to prove that each deal is independent, and that if either trade were to fall through and ultimately not happen, the teams would still proceed with the other trade.

With each side trying to figure out the best way to appease the NBA — most likely by tweaking the trade and/or ensuring there’s a reasonable time frame between the deals — the Clippers have turned their attention and focus on acquiring Rivers and solving their coaching situation first and foremost.

The Clippers’ primary target now is Rivers, whom sources said team owner Donald Sterling already has signed off on paying upward of $7 million a year for five years. Boston would require compensation for Rivers, who is still under contract for three years and $21 million with the Celtics.

The Clippers’ new challenge, sources say, is thus twofold. They must offer enough in compensation to persuade Boston to let Rivers go — which would likely cement the signature of star guard Chris Paul on a new contract when he becomes a free agent — and then hope any subsequent trade agreement they pursue for Garnett is ultimately approved by the league as a separate transaction not contingent on the hiring of Rivers.

Should the Clippers pursue this strategy, it would be with the understanding they could end up with only Rivers.

League sources told ESPN.com on Thursday morning that previous constructions of the proposed transactions — which would’ve sent Garnett to Los Angeles for DeAndre Jordan and Rivers to the Clippers with two first-round picks as compensation for the coach — were unlikely to be approved by the league office.

For the Clippers to acquire Rivers, they would have to send the Celtics their 2013 first round draft pick (25th overall). Sounds simple.

As long as it appears Garnett and Rivers are a package deal, the NBA won’t allow the Clippers and Celtics to work together on a resolution to this awkward mess. As such, the Clippers believe they should first acquire Rivers — the most important piece — and then try to bring in Garnett and Paul Pierce later, with the strong possibility that neither can end up in L.A. (although it’s difficult to imagine an ideal situation for either player elsewhere).

While that would be far from the Clippers’ dream scenario, they eventually need to hire a coach and there is no better option than Rivers. At the very worst, they would have a top-3 coach in Rivers and an unhappy DeAndre Jordan. Things could be worse. The first step, of course, is agreeing to send to first pick(s).

Will the Clippers pull the trigger, make the trade and end the speculation? Is this another negotiating tactic? Why are they all of the sudden backing out again? We’ll have to wait and see.

Jovan Buha is a staff writer and Digital Content Programmer at FOX Sports. He also contributes to ESPN Los Angeles’ Clippers and Lakers coverage. Jovan graduated from USC with a degree in Print & Digital Journalism and a minor in Sports Media Studies in 2014.

This deal is not going to happen before the draft.
I actually dont think it will happen. But as long as the team does not hire one of the other head coaching candidates, this thing could come back at any moment.

Bongstradamus

This deal is not going to happen before the draft.
I actually dont think it will happen. But as long as the team does not hire one of the other head coaching candidates, this thing could come back at any moment.

intentonanonsense

I don’t know, I think I’d prefer whatever they choose to do, done ASAP. But wouldn’t one the draft pick be a pick for this year’s draft? If so, this should be done ASAP, I bet the Celtics would also want to have a coach by next Thursday. It’s less than a week from now, they should really solve this quickly. Be it Shaw, Hollins or Rivers. I left Scott out because I don’t think he will bring Lawrence Frank, Kidd already showed interest in him and without Frank, I wouldn’t hire Scott. The league or Stern has been obnoxious because there are plenty of transactions that are dealt in separate ways but it’s obviously correlated. When he vetoed the CP3 to the Lakers he was doing whatever he was doing, in the interest of the Hornets and that’s ok, but in this case I don’t really see the point. Hopefully this will be done soon.

Bongstradamus

Celtics want us to think this needs to be done ASAP. It doesnt. They still have to make some uncomfortable decisions leading up to the draft and shortly after it. They have to rebuild. Theres no way around it. They just want to try and get as much as they can from us before they are faced with needing to make those decisions regarding KG and PP and even Doc.

We’ll gain more leverage by waiting. The second Danny Ainge has to start making decisions for the Celtics is the second our leverage improves. In the meantime, we’re gonna take a PR hit for not “giving in” and letting them have a 1st round pick. Hopefully it doesnt push CP3 out the door.

We could have handled this better by recognizing earlier when we would have better leverage and waiting until then to finally try and make a deal happen. Frankly, we moved too early and out ourselves at a disadvantage, but Id imagine the impending free agency of CP3 has a lot to do with that. They wanted to get Doc under contract before July 1st.

Bongstradamus

Celtics want us to think this needs to be done ASAP. It doesnt. They still have to make some uncomfortable decisions leading up to the draft and shortly after it. They have to rebuild. Theres no way around it. They just want to try and get as much as they can from us before they are faced with needing to make those decisions regarding KG and PP and even Doc.

We’ll gain more leverage by waiting. The second Danny Ainge has to start making decisions for the Celtics is the second our leverage improves. In the meantime, we’re gonna take a PR hit for not “giving in” and letting them have a 1st round pick. Hopefully it doesnt push CP3 out the door.

We could have handled this better by recognizing earlier when we would have better leverage and waiting until then to finally try and make a deal happen. Frankly, we moved too early and out ourselves at a disadvantage, but Id imagine the impending free agency of CP3 has a lot to do with that. They wanted to get Doc under contract before July 1st.

Clipperblues

The coach is irrelevant. Trading a player or future player for a coach makes no sense at all.

And what kind of a prize is a prima donna coach that quits his team when times are tough instead of COACH the team into being contenders? Doc Rivers is 51, not 81. The Clips should hire a coach that isn’t trying to be handed a ring. NO PARASITES!

the mortician

I’d rather get Rivers first and let HIM decide if he wants to work with DJ and believes he can turn him into a decent center. Why do we want to get instantly old with Garnett and, maybe, have him for 2 years at best in a diminished capacity if Rivers (or Shaw for that matter) thinks he can develop the incredibly athletic, if immature, Jordan? If CP3 is going to be here for 5 years, wouldn’t he rather have a (potentially) improved Jordan or has he just lost all faith in him…?
I like keeping this team young and developing!